Braiding-machine.



R. W. LOTZ BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEH. 1911A Patented Dec. 10, 1918 8 SHEETSSHEET l.

R. W. LOTZ.

BRAIDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNEll, 1911.

1,287,368. Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

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R. W. LOTZ.

BHAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1 I. 1911.

Patented Doc. 10, 1918.

B SHEETS- SHEET 3.

R. W. LOTZ BRAIDiNG MACH|NE.

APPLICATION mu) JUNEII 1917.

1,287,868, Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

R. W. LOTZ.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEIl. 1917.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

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BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE H. 1917.

Patented D00. 10, 1918.

8 SHEETS -SHEET I.

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BRAIDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNEH, 19w.

Patented Dec. 10, M918.

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RALPH w. LOTZ, or

RICHMOND HILL, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 NATIONAL INDICATOR COMPANY, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BRAIDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

Application filed June 11, 1917. Serial No. 173,982.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH W. Lo'rz, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Richmond Hill, borough of Queens, county of Queens, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Braiding-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to that type of machine designed for producing a tubular braided structure, either in the form of a covering for a core or as a tubular braided cord or rope.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a braiding machine in which two annular series of spools or bobbins are mounted to rotate in a circular orbit and in opposite directions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a braiding machine having two annular series of spools or bobbins which move around the machine in opposite directions in substantially the same plane, means being provided whereby the threads from the inner series of spools may be passed outwardly and over the threads from the outer series of spools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a braiding machine of the class herein specified, wherein the outer series of bobbins will be carried by movable carriers which are moved around the machine in an annular orbit, the threads from the inner series of spools being carried outwardly beyond the threads from the outer series of bobbins and over the same, and then inwardly and under the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the class described herein, in which the thread from each of the inner series of spools will be carried outwardly and over the thread from the adjoining outer bobbin, and then inwardly and under the threads from the next two outer bobbins, whereby said threads will pass alternately under two threads and then over one thread, this operation being repeated throughout the travel of each suool of the inner series.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved automatic stopping devices controlled by the threads from each of the spools, whereby on the breakage of any thread the machine will be automatically stopped.

There are many other important objects and advantages of the invention, such as an improved tension means; and many features of construction by which the machine is rendered noiseless even at high speeds and which make the machine efficient and adaptable for braiding tubular structures for many purposes and of various sizes.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 2 a side elevation, partly in vertical section;

Fig. 3 a vertical sectional view of a portion of the machine, showing the thread from the inner series of spools carried outwardly beyond the thread from the outer series of bobbins;

Fig. -l a view similar'to Fig. 3, showing the thread from the inner spool carried inwardly and under the thread from the outer series of bobbins;

Fig. 5 a detail plan view, showing themeans for starting and stopping the machine, the parts being in the position which they occupy when the machine is in operation;

Fig. 6 a view similar to Fig. 5, the parts being in the positions which they occupy when the machine is stopped; I

Fig. 7 a detail elevation of the parts. shown'in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 a view similar to Fig. 7 the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 a detail side elevation, partly in section, of the bobbin, movable carrier, thread guide, and tension means;

Fig. 10 an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 an enlarged diagrammatic plan view, showing the paths of movement of the threads from the inner series of spools;

Fig. 12 a horizontal sectional view approximately on the line XII-XII, of Fig. 2;

Fig. 13 a side elevation and plan view of the stopping device controlled by one of the threads; and

Fig. 1a a detail sectional view. showing the rollers for supporting the pusher ring.

Referring to the various parts by numerals, 1 designates the main frame of the machine, which is suitably supported on standards and carries the upwardly extending supplemental frame 2. on which is mounted the feeding and take-up mecha- -nism. The main frame is circular and con sists of the base plate 3 and the upwardly extending annular side flange 1 said frame forming a circular receptacle to receive most of the operating parts. The side flange is cut away, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, in order to lighten the same. In the main frame, and substantially flush with the upper edge of the side flange thereof is mounted a circular rotatable table 4. Connected to the under side of this table, and concentric therewith is a. circular plate 5, said plate being formed with a central depending hub. Connected to the lower end of the hub of this plate 5 is a gear wheel 6, said wheel being concentric with the table and bearing on a central hub formed on the base plate 3 of the main frame. A tubular spindle 3 is rigidly secured in the base plate 3 and extends upwardly through central apertures in the gear 6, connecting plate 5, and the tablet the said parts rotating about said spindle. The gear 6 is rigidly connected to the plate 5, and said plate is rigidly connected to the table 4 so that all of said parts rotate together. Meshing with the gear 6 is an intermediate drive gear 7, which in turn meshes with the main driving gear 8 mounted upon a vertical shaft 9, journaled in suitable bearings on the side of the main frame. To the lower end of this vertical shaft is secured. a beveled pinion 10, which meshes with a similar pinion 11 secured to a horizontal drive shaft 12,.which carries the driving belt wheel 13. Engaging this belt wheel is the movable member 14 of a friction clutch, said clutch being oper ated by means of a lever 15, one arm of which extends up into the machine and is operated by suitable devices, as will be more fully hereinafter described.

On the upper end of the vertical shaft 9 is mounted a worm 16 which meshes with a worm gear 17, which drives, through a variable feed gearing 18, a horizontal shaft 19. This shaft 19 carries a pinion 20 which meshes with a pinion 21 on the shaft of the feed or take-up drum This drum feeds or takes up the braided structure and from said drum it is led to a suitable reel or other gathering or collecting means.

It will, of course, be understood'that any suitable form of feed or take-up mechanism may be employed, and we wish it understood that we are not to be limited in this respect.

The table 4 is formed with twelve radial slots 23 which extend from a point near the center of the table to the periphery thereof, the outer ends of said slots-being ope-n. Mounted on the table between said slots is a circular series of spools 24, said spools being located between the slots and at a suitable distance from the center of the table. Formed on the table near the periphery thereof is an annular flanged track 25,

'threa d I said track being interrupted by the radial slots, and extending only between said slots. Mounted to slide on this track are twelve carriers 26, each of said carriers carrying a vertical bobbin 27. The carriers are free to slide on the track 25, and are of sufficient length to. bridge the breaks in the track due to the radial slots 23? \Vithin the main frame, close to the vertical portion 1 thereof is a pusher ring 28, said ring being formed at its lower end with an inwardly extending base flange 29. Suitabl anti-friction bearings are arranged in the main frame to be engaged by the pusher ring 28 to maintain said ring concentric with the main frame and with the rotatable table and to prevent it binding on the side 1 of the main frame. Supported stationarily in the main frame is an annular rack 30, said rack being mounted on lugs 31 extending upwardly from the base 3 of the frame. This rack is geared externally, and meshing therewith are small pinions 32, said pinions being mounted on vertical shafts 33 journaled in the base flange 29 of the pusher ring and in suitable bearings secured to said ring near the upper edge thereof. On the upper ends of these shafts 33 above the rotatable table 4 are secured pusher disks 34, said disks being clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Secured to the base flange of the pusher ring is a gear wheel 35, and meshing with this gear is a pusher driving gear 36, mounted on the vertical shaft 9. It is manifest that the pusher ring will be rotated through gears 35 and 36, and that because of the direct connection between pusher ring and the table 4 will rotat in opposite directions. In the construction shown in the drawings, the table will rotate anti-clockwise, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 11, and'the pusher ring will rotate clockwise, as indicated by the arrow in said figure. The pusher disks are arranged to engage the carriers and to maintain them at a fixed distance from each other, and to serve as the carrier propelling means by which the carriers are moved on the track 25. As the pusher ring is moved the pusher disks will be rotated by means of the gears 32 and the'stationary rack 30 in the direction indicated by the arrow on saiddisks in Fig. 11. Each pusher disk is formed with two properly located notches 37, fora purpose which will be fully hereinafter set forth.

In. each slot 23 is mounted a radially movable slide 38, and each slide carries at its outer end a vertical post 39, which carries near its lower end a thread guide 40. a guide 41 being mounted on the upper end thereof. On the inner end of each slide is mounted a thread guide 42. In front of this guide 42 is mounted a pawl which is said gears, the

held out of engagement with an automatic stop (which will be hereinafter described) by the thread. Should the thread break, the pawl will drop and engage the automatic stop, as will be fully herein described. From the spool 24 the thread passes over the guide 45 secured to the upper end of the rigid post carried by the table 24; from thence over guide 43 mounted on a rigid post 44 carried by the table, and then under the guide 42.

In the plate 5 near the periphery thereof are mounted twelve vertical shafts 46, on the lower end of each of which is secured a pinion 47 which meshes with a fixed annular rack 48, said rack being supported by lugs 49 on the base plate 3 of the machine. On the upper end of each of the shafts 46 is mounted a crank 50, the outer end of which is connected by a link 51 to the slide 38. It is manifest that as the table and plate 5 are rotated the gear 47 will be rotated on its axis and the connected slide 38 reciprocat-ed in its slot by means of the crank 50 and the link 51.' As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, when the slides 38 are at'the limit of their outward movement the thread guide posts 39 have been carried outwardly beyond the track 25 and the carriers mounted thereon, and the threads 24 from the spools 24 are carried outwardly beyond the threads 27 of the bobbins 27, and are in a position to be passed over the threads 27 When the slides 38 are at the inner limit of their move ment, the thread guide posts 39 are carried inwardly through the slots in the track 25,

as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and

the threads 24 are in a position to be passed under the threads '27. As the slides 38 are moved outwardly. the posts 39 are received in one of the notches 37 of the pusher disks 34, and the rotation of said pusher disks permits said posts and slides to continue their outward movement beyond the carriers while the said disks maintain said carriers a fixed distance from each other on the carrier track. As indicated by the arrows in Fig. 11 the table 4 will be rotated in one direction while the carriers will be propelled in the opposite direction, due to their engagement with the carrier disks. The posts 39 enter the slots 37 of the carrier disks while the slots 23 of the table are intermediate the carriers. The continued rotation of the pusher disks will allow the post to pass outwardly beyond the carriers while at the same time maintaining the carriers in their fixed relation to each other. The slides 38 on their return movement carry the posts 39 into one of the slots in the next ad acent pusher disk, and the continued rotation of the table and of the engaged disk carries the said post inwardly beyond the carriers in the same manner in which it was carried outwardly beyond the and b. The path of the thread guide a will be traced beginning at the bottom of the view. It will be noted that this thread guide has begun its inward movement and is about to enter one of the notches in the pusher disk 01. This disk is rotating on its axis in the direction indicated by the arrow on said disk, and at the same time it is moving around the machine in the direction indicated by the large arrow B. Itwill, of course, be understood that the table is rotating on its axis in the direction indicated by the arrow A. The thread guide a is also being' drawn inwardl through the operation of the post carrylng slide 38. The results of all of these movements is that the thread guide post enters the slot in the pusher disk (I and is permitted to move inwardly around the carrier, as indicated in the path marked a. The thread guide con-.

tinues its inward movement, and its anticlockwise rotary movement, passing under the threads from two bobbins 27, until in its next outward movement it reaches the point a between two adjoining carriers and is about to enter one of the slots in the pusher disk f. The continued outward movement of the thread guide post carries it into the said slot and the rotation of the pusher disk permits said post to be carried outwardly beyond the carrier controlled by the said pusher disk As the pusher disk 7' rotates it permits the thread guide post to pass out of the slot therein, outside of the carrier, as indicated in dot-ted lines in Fig. 11. The continued rotary movement of the table carries the thread guide post outside of the carrier and into one of the slots of the pusher disk g. The rotation of this latter disk and the continued rotation of the table permits the thread guide post to be carried inwardly around the carrier, as indicated in the path a. This movement of the thread guide is continued enti'rely'around the machine, so that the thread controlled by said uide is passed under the threads from two (bobbins 27, and then over the thread carried by one bobbin 27. The thread guide posts indicated by the path of movement marked 1) are precisely the same as that marked a.

It will, of course, be understood that the carriers are moving anti-clockwise under the control of the pusher disks, and that said disks are carried by the pusher ring 28,

which is moving anti-clockwise, as indicated by the arrow B in Fig. 11. The rotatable table and the pusher ring are moving at the same speed, but in opposite directions, and the pusher disks will be moved at the proper speed to secure the passage of the thread guide posts around the carriers smoothly, and without any danger of jamming the parts. The pusher disks operate in the na ture of escapements or transfer means which, while maintaining the carriers in their proper spaced relation to each other and propelling them around the table, permit the thread guide posts to be passed around the carriers, as heretofore set forth.

Each carrier consists of a base 52, which is grooved "on its under side and provided with inwardly extending flanges to fit over the flanges on the track 25, so that the said carrier base is thereby locked to the track. Each base is formed with the concave surfaces 53 at its ends, adapted to be engaged by the peripheries of the controlling pusher disks. iach base is provided with an upwardly extending rigid spindle 54, adapted to receive the tube 55 on which the thread is wound. At the base of the spindle is secured a cup 56, which is formed with a central annular depression 57, the sides of the cup inclining upwardly and outwardly from the upper margin of said cup. The l wer end of the tube 55 extends down into the cup 57 and the outer lower edge of the cylindrical winding of thread rests on the inclined surface of the cup 56. As shown in Fig. 3, when the winding is of large diameter its lower outer edge rests on the surface of the cup near its outer margin. As the diameter of the winding is reduced, the oint of contact between the lower edge 0 the winding and the cup is brought nearer to the center of the cup. At all times, however, there is an engagement between the lower outer edge of the winding and the inclined surface of the cup, so that the friction between the winding and the cup remains substantially the same, without regard to the diameter of the winding of the tube. This is important, as maintaining a uniform tension on the thread.

On each carrier base is mounted a rigid post 58, on which is a vertically slidable bobbin holder 59. The bobbin holder is guided on the post 58 by means of lugs 60 and is provided with an arm 61, carrying a holding and centering piece 62 which is adapted to fit in the upper end of the tube 55, to maintain the bobbin in a true upright position and to press the same into the cup 56. A spring 63 is mounted on the post 58 between the lug 60 of the bobbin holder and the pressure of said spring on the bobbin holder is regulated by means of an adjustable nut 64. The bobbin holder 59 may be drawn upwardly against the tension of the spring slide 66 and the tension on 63 to permit of the removal of the bobbin from the spindle 54.

A thread guide post 65 on each carrier supports the thread guides 66 and 66". On the lower end of this post 65 is mounted a slide 66 which carries a. thread guide 67. The thread 27 from the bobbin is carried around the'thread guide 66 on the post 65, thence around and under thread guide 67, and thence up and around thread guide 66", so that the thread guide .67 and the slide 66 is suspended in a loop in the pin 68 limits the upward movement: of the the thread 27 maintains the slide against said stop pin. Rigidly connectedto the slide 66 is an arm 69 whose out-er end is bent downwardly to form a stop arm 70, said arm extending vertically through an aperture in the carrier, its lower end in its normal position being held out of the path of a stop ring, which will be hereinafter described. Should the thread 27 break, the slide 66 will drop, thereby carrying the stop arm 70 into the path of a latch which maintains a stop pin out of operative position. When said latch is engaged by the stop arm 70 the stop pin will be dropped into position to operate the automatic stop means.

Each of the spools 24' is provided with a holder and tension device 59, which operates in precisely the same manner as the bobbin holders mounted on the carriers. Each spool 24 is supported upon a. spindle 54, secured to the table, and each of said spools rests in a cup 56 precisely as described with respect to the bobbins 27. The posts 44, on the table adjacent each of the spool holders are vertically slotted, and in these slots the guides 43 are vertically adjustable. On each slide 38, near the inner end thereof is piv oted a trip lever 73, said lever being pivoted at its outer end on a short post 74. The thread guide 42, hereinbefore mentioned, is mounted on a short post 75, carried by the slide. .On the trip lever 73 is a laterally projecting pin 73*, under which the thread 24 passes. Pivoted on the table top in the path of the lever 73 and adapted to be, en-

' gaged by said lever as the slide 38 is moved inwardly, is a latch 76, said latch in its normal position as shown in Fig. 5, holding a stop pin 77 in its elevated inoperative position. When the latch 76 is free end of the trip lever 73 it is moved to the position shown in Fig. 6, and releases the .pin 77, permitting it to drop into the path of the stop. mechanism, as shown in Fig. 8. The lever 73 is supported by the thread 24 and its free end held out of the path of the latch 76. Should the thread 24 break, the free end of the lever 73 would drop to the table into the path of the latch 76 and said latch would be moved to release the stop pin 77. The latch 76 is also in the thread 27. A

engaged by thepath of the stop arms when said arms are dropped, so that said arms will move said latches to release the stop pins 77. The levers 7 3 are arranged'to engage the shorter arms of the latches in order to free the stop pin, and the stop arms 70 are arranged to engage the longer arms of said latches.

It will therefore be seen .that should any one of the threads 24 or 27 break, automatic stopping devices will be operated to release the clutch and stop the machine. The devices operated by the stop pin 77 and the stop finger 70 will be fully hereinafter described.

Mounted on the stationary rack 30 is a rotatable stop ring 78, which is formed in its inner circumference with a clutch operating cam 79. Connected to this stop ring is an operating handle 80, by means of which it may be moved to bring the clutch operat ing cam into and out of engagement with the upper end of the upwardly extending arm 15 of the clutch operating lever 15. By moving the stop ring in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figs. 5 and 6, the inclined portion 7 9 of the clutch operating cam will engage the arm 15 of the clutch lever and move .it sufiiciently to throw the. clutch member 14 into engagement with its companion member. By reversing the movement of the stop ring the arm 15* will be released from the clutch operating cam 79 and the clutch members will be disengaged. Pivoted on the upper surface of the stationary rack 30 are a series of slotted links 81, said links being connected to the stop ring by pins 82 which pass upwardly into the slots of said links. These links limit the movement of the stop ring on the stationary rack in its clutch releasing operation. The movement of the stop ring in the opposite direction 'is limited by the engagement of the clutch members. When the stop ring is moved to throw the clutch members into engagement, the slotted links 81 are radial to the center of the stop ring, as shown in Fig. 5. In this position the inner ends of these links are directly inthe paths of the stop pins 77 and the stop fingers 7 0, so that when any one of said stop devices is lowered it is in the path of said links, and as the table is rotated one of said links will be engaged by the lowered stop device, and will be swung outwardly, thereby moving the stop ring in the direction to release the arm 15 of the clutch operating leve from the cam 79. It is manifest that this operation of the stop ring will release the clutch and stop the machine. There are a sufiicient number of links 81 to secure the stopping of the machine almost immediately upon the breaking of any one of the threads.

The pusher ring is supported by means of rollers '28 which are mounted upon the inner surface of the slide flange 1 of the main casing; and any lateigal thrust on said pusher ring is taken up by'ythe ball bearings 28" mounted in the side of'the main frame.

When the machine is used for braiding a covering upon a core 88","and this use is shown in the drawings, the core-passes upwardly through the tubular spindle 3, as-

shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 4.

It will be noted that the carriers are controlled bymeans arranged outside of or beyond the periphery of the table. By reason of this arrangement of the carrier controlling means the bobbin thread guides may be moved by the table under one or more of the threads 24* from the spools. As shown in the drawings, the bobbin thread guides pass inwardly and under two spool threads. It is obvious, however, that by suitably timing the movements of the carriers and table, the bobbin thread guides may be caused to carry the bobbin threads under any desired number of threads from the spools. This renders the machine, capable of various styles of braiding. It is also obvious that the braid may be varied by varying the relative speeds of the table and the carriers.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a braiding machine, the combination of a rotatable table provided with a series of 4 radial guideways, a series of spool holders mounted thereon and rotatable therewith, an annular track on said table intersected by said radial guide-ways, a series of carriers mounted on said track, a bobbin holder mounted on each carrier, a pusher ring, means for rotating said ring in a direction opposite to the rotation of the table, a series of pusher disks carried by the pusher ring and engaging the carriers to move them about the track and formed with by-pass slots, thread guides mounted in the radial guide-ways, and means for reciprocating said thread guides, said reciprocating means operating to place said thread guides in the bypass slots of the disks whereby said thread guides may be passed outwardly around the carriers.

2. A braiding machine, comprising a circular table, an annular series of upright spool holders, an annular series of upright bobbin holders, said spool and bobbin ho1d ers bein supported on the table and in substantially the same horizontal plane, means 3. A braiding machine, comprising a rotatable table formed with a series of radial slots, a seriesof vertically arranged spool holders mounted on said table, an annular track formed onvthe upper surface of said table near its periphery, said track being intersected by the radial slots, a series of carriers mounted on said track, a vertically arranged bobbin holder carried by each carrier, a pusher ring surrounding the table, a series of pusher disks carried by said ring, each disk engaging the ends of adjoining carriers and each disk being formed with an escapement slot, means for rotating the pusher ring in a direction opposite to the rotation of the table, thread guides mounted in the radial slots, means for reciprocating said thread guides, said means placing the thread guides in the escapement slots as said guides are moved outwardly and then inwardly between the carriers, and means for rotating the pusher disks.

4. A braiding machine, tatable table formed with provided with a circular track on its upper surface, said track being intersected by the said slots, a series of verticall arranged spool holders carried by said ta' le, a series of carriers mounted on said track, a vertically arranged bobbin holder on each carrier, means for rotating said table, a pusher comprising a roring extending around and outside of the table, means for rotating said ring in a direction opposite to the rotation of the table, a series of pusher disks carried by said ring, each of said disks being arranged to engage the ends of adjoining carriers and to move said carriers about the machine and formed with escapement slots, thread guide slides mounted in the radial slots, and means for reciprocating said slides to bring the thread guides into the escapement slots as said guides pass outwardly and inwardly between the carriers.

5. A braiding machine, comprising a horizontal table and means for rotating it, said table being formed with radial slots and with an annular track, a pusher ring surrounding said table, means for rotating said ring .in a direction opposite to the rotation of the table, a series of upright spool holders carried by the table, a. series of upright bobbin holders adapted to be moved around the table by the movement of the said ring, thread guides for the threads from the spools, means for reciprocating said thread guides in the radial slots, and means carried by the ring to pass said guides outwardly between the carriers and then inwardly between them.

6. A braiding machine, comprisin a table and means for rotating it, sai table being forined with radial guide-ways and carrying an annular series of spool holders and an annular track intersected by said radial slots and guide-ways, a series of carriers mounted on .said track, a vertically arranged bobbin holder mounted on each carrier, a pusher disk arranged between each pair of carriers, a vertical shaft supporting each of said disks, :1 gear wheel mounted on the lower end of each of said shafts, a stationary rack arranged to be engaged by said gears, a pusher ring extending around and outside of the table, means for mounting the pusher disk shafts in said ring, means for rotating the pusher ring in a direction opposite the rotation of the table, formed with escapement slots, and means for reciprocating a thread guide to place it in the slots and to withdraw it therefrom as the said thread guide is passed outwardly between one pair of carriers and then drawn inwardly between another pair of carriers.

7. A braidingmachine, comprising a r0- tatable table carrying a series of vertically arranged spool holders, a pusher ring, means for rotating said ring in a direction opposite to the rotation of the table, a series of vertically arranged bobbin holders moved by the said ring around the table in a direction opposite to the movement of the table, a series of pusher disks carried by the pusher ring andarranged between the bobbin holders, a series of thread guides carried by the table, means for reciprocating said guides, and means whereby the pusher disks will pass said thread guides outwardly around the carriers and then inwardly around the same.

8. A braiding machine, comprising :1 r0- tatable table carrying a series of vertically arranged spool holders, :1 pusher ring, means for rotating said ring in a direction opposite to the rotation of the table, a series of carriers, a series of pusher disks carried by the pusher ring and arranged between the carriers, a series of thread guides carried by the table, means for reciprocating said guides, means whereby the pusher disks will pass said thread guides outwardly around the carriers and then inwardly around the same, a stationary annular rack, and a gear carried by each pusher disk and adapted to engage said rack as the pus-her ring is moved about the table.

9. In a braiding machine, the combination of a rotatable table provided with a series of radial guideways, a series of spool holders mounted thereon and rotatable therewith, an annular-track on said table intersected by said radial guide-ways, a series of carriers mounted on said track, a bobbin holder mounted on each carrier, at pusher ring, means for rotating said ring in a direction opposite to the rotation of the table, a series of pusher disks carried by the pusher ring and engaging the carriers to move them about the track and formed with escapement slots, thread guides mounted in the radial carriers, a starting ring,

guide-ways, means for reciprocating said thread guides, said reciprocating means operating to place said thread guides in the slots of the pusher disks whereby said thread guides may be passed outwardly around the,

a clutch mechanism, and means carried by said starting ring to operate said clutch mechanism.

10. In a braiding machine, the combination of a rotatable table provided with a series of radial guide-ways, a series of spool holders mounted thereon and rotatable therewith, an annular track on said table intersected by said radial guide-ways, a series of carriers mounted on said track, a bobbin holder on each carrier. a pusher ring, means for rotating said ring in a direction opposite to the rotation of the table, a series of pusher disks carried by the pusher ring and engaging the carriers to move them about the track and formed with by-pass slots, thread guides mounted in the radial guide-ways,

I forming means for means for reciprocating said thread guides, said reciprocating means operating to place said thread guides in the by-pass slots of the-pusher disks whereby said thread guides may be passed outwardly around the carriers, a starting ring, a clutch mechanism,

means carried by said starting ring to operate said clutch mechanism, comprising links slidably engaging the said starting ring and moved into operative position thereby, and means held out of operative position by the threads and adapted when released to move the starting ring and thereby release the clutch.

'11. In abraiding machine, the combination of a rotatable table provided with a series of radial guide-ways, a series of spool holders mounted thereon and rotatable therewith, an annular track on said table intersected by said radial guide-ways, a series of carriers mounted on said track, a bobbin holder on each carrier, a pusher ring, means for rotating said ring in a direction opposite to the rotation of the table, a series of pusher disks carried by the ring and engaging the carriers to move them about the track and formed with by-pass slots, thread guides mounted in the radial guide-ways, means for reciprocating said thread guides, said reciprocating means operating to place said thread guides in the by pass slots of the pusher disks whereby said thread guides may be passed outwardly around the carriers, a starting ring, a clutch mechanism, a lever adapted to operate said clutch mechanism, a cam formed on the starting ring and adapted to engage said lever to move the clutch'to operative position, links having a slidable engagement with said starting ring limiting the'movement of said ring in one direction, said ring being adapted to move the links into operative position when moved in the reverse direction, and means held out of operative position by the threads and adapted when released to operate said links and to move said starting ring to release said cam from the clutch lever and thereby release the clutch.

12. A braiding machine comprising a horizontal circular table and means for ro tating'it, a series of spool holders carried by the table, an annular series of carriers mounted on the table, a bobbin holdei mounted on each carrier, a ring surrounding the table and carrying means for holding the "carriers in spaced relation, means for rotating the ring opposite the direction of rotation of the table, thread guides for the spool threads, and means for moving said thread guides inwardly and outwardly to place said threads over and under the threads from the bobbins.

13. A braiding machine comprising a horizontal circular table and means for rotating it, a series of spool holders carried by the table, an annular series of carriers mounted on the table, a bobbin holder mounted on each carrier, a ring surrounding the table, means carried by said ring and engaging the outer sides of the carriers to hold said carriers in spaced relation and to move them around the table, means for rotating the ring opposite the direction of rotation of the table, thread guides for the spool threads, means for moving said thread guides inwardly and outwardly to place said threads over and under the threads from the bobbins, and means to permit the thread guides to pass outwardly around the carriers without releasing the carriers from their spacing means.

14. A braiding machine tatable table carrying a series of vertically arranged spool holders, a series of carriers, a series of pusher disks arranged between the carriers and engaging the outer sides thereof, means for supporting said pusher disks beyond the periphery of the table and 'for moving them about the table in a direction opposite to the rotation of the table, a series of thread guides carried by the table, means for reciprocatin whereby the pusher isks will pass said thread guides outwardly around the carriers and then inwardly around'the same, and means for rotating the pusher disks as they are moved around the table.

15. A braiding machine comprising a rotatable table carrying a series of vertically arranged spool holders, a pusher ring, means for rotating said ring in a direction opposite to the rotation of the table, a series of vertically arranged bobbin holders adapted to be moved by said ring around the table in a direction opposite to the movement of the table, a series of spacing devices carried by the pusher ring and arranged between the bobbin holders and serving to move the bobcomprising a robin holders as the ring is rotated, a series of thread guides carried by the table, means for reciprocating said guides, and means whereby the spacing devices will pass said thread guides outwardly around the carriers and then inwardly around the same.

16. A braiding machine, comprising a horizontal table and means for rotating it, a series of spool holders carried by the table, an annular series of carriers mounted on the table, a bobbin holder on each carrier, means engaging the outer sides of said carriers to bridge the space between them, to move them around the table inspaced relation to each other, thread guides, and means for radially reciprocating said guides to pass them outwardly around the carriers and inwardly around the carriers.

17. A braiding machine comprising a circular table, an annular series of upright spool holders, an annular series of upright bobbin holders, said spool holders and bobbin holders being supported on the table in substantially the same horizontal plane means for rotating the table, means for spacing the bobbin holders from each other and moving said spacing means around the machine in a direction opposite to the directlon of rotation of the table, a series of thread guides for the threads from the spools, means for radially reciprocating said guides, and means whereby the bobbin holder spacing devices will pass the threads car ried by said guides outwardly beyond and over the threads from the bobbins and then inwardly and under the threads from the bobbins.

This specification signed this 23rd day of May, A. D. 1917.

RALPH W. LOTZ. 

